Shows
Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 40 - The Space Between Knowing and GrowingToday I'm joined by Annie Baker Atwood - a Reiki master, qualified hypnotist, former kindergarten teacher and an accomplished All-American sailor.While our discussion was initially about reiki itself, this led on to a wider understanding of our own spirituality, gaining that extra 2%, the importance of being there in the moment and a great deal more - including a remote session between us to facilitate a joining of energies.I left the conversation feeling like I had learned something, better in myself and privileged to have met such a fascinating woman - I hope this...2025-07-211h 03Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 39 - What Makes a Man?Today I'm joined by Steve McNamara - owner, operator and driving force behind the Wildman Revolution. For over a decade, Steve has been working with men who were disenfranchised, stuck, lost or just wanted to take life to that next step by helping them to unlock their inner power, rediscover their masculine energy and reclaim their role in society.We talk about how society places expectations on men, moving on from maladaptive patterns of behaviour, masking with drink and drugs, those pivotal moments that spark change and so much more. Talking with Steve has...2025-07-141h 05Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 38 - Breathe......Slow Down and Move Forward...Today I'm joined by Chelsea Powell - she's a Stress and Confidence Coach, Podcaster and self-confessed 'Boss Bitch' who doesn't play small.Having been entrenched in a merry-go-round of feeling the need to achieve and do more, feeling unheard or dismissed, then blotting with excessive alcohol, Chelsea reached a point where she just knew that she wanted more than life was currently offering - and the change started within...Inspiring, honest and willing to do the hard yards, Chelsea has built herself up - and quite literally when it comes to her house - into...2025-07-071h 06Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 37 - Everybody Hurts pt.2To see out Men's Mental Health Month, Johnny and I return to continue on from the previous conversation relating to wellbeing, communicating and seeking help as a man struggling in modern society.Today we look more at the options available while suggesting possible ways of widening the net and making these services more accessible, finding your 'safe space' while cringing at the terminology, venting effectively and so much more.Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.2025-06-301h 04Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 36 - Everybody Hurts, pt.1As we draw to the end of Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, Jonny and I look at some of the potential causes of mental health issues that seem to affect men, societal attitudes to wellbeing and masculinity, possible supports, barriers to access and plenty more besides.Available on Spotify and Apple PodcastsMen's Health Month | National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)Richard V. Reeves - American Institute for Boys and MenTheTinMen (@thetinmen) • Instagram photos and videos2025-06-231h 04Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 35 - Scars to Your BeautifulToday is talk with Tosombra "Tai" Adecia about the transition from 'Resilient to Radiance' and so much more...Tai is a one-woman force of nature, with so many stories to share that will resonate with all of us. Having been raised in the military life and going on to carve out her own path, Tai talks about her near-death experiences in daily life, learning what matters and making the brave changes needed to move towards the life she wants to lead as well as showing up as herself.Our conversation as ever is open, honest...2025-06-161h 04Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 34 - You Raise Me UpThere is a famous quote that states "It's easier to build strong children than to repair broken men" but in a society that is too quick to label and dismiss broken children, who is there to build them up from a life that has shown them dysfunction and cruelty? Today I speak with Ron, who has spent his career working with just such children following a traumatic childhood of his own that began with entry into foster care at two years of age. We talk about developing in chaos, recognising the angels that appear at opportune moments, taking our...2025-06-091h 06Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 33 - Better ManIn an age of self-improvement and endless avenues promising us a quick fix, what is the best way to reach your goals and live a fulfilled life? Is it more money? Is it bigger muscles? A pretty girlfriend? While we each have our own view on what constitutes a good life, it is clear that there is no 'silver bullet' solution and that continued perseverance is key.Today, Abhi and I discuss our own journeys, the lessons that we've taken, the mistakes that we've made and all the other surrounding parts that line the...2025-06-021h 05Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 32 - It's Much More Important Than That...The recent UEFA Cup Final (currently rebranded as the Europa League) between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur was understandably a big fixture but took on greater significance to Andre and his family. His Dad was brought up in Bilbao and was entranced by watching the Busby Babes, just one year before the Munich Air Disaster claimed them - but Pepe was hooked. He moved to England in 1961 and met his future wife - an avid Tottenham fan and a cult of personality in her own right. Down the years, there were two fixtures each season that split their household...2025-05-261h 15Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 31 - Where Is My Mind...?In a time when things seem rather busy and stressful, we often look to outside pressures or solutions, regularly seeking to work or think our way out of our current predicaments - ironically adding to our problems rather than solving them.Today I'm joined by Imelda Curtin, a mindset coach who has extensive experience working in a number of disciplines including hypnotherapy, counselling and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) among others. We discuss the benefits of understanding oneself, when counselling can be more harmful, letting go of the unhelpful things and so much more....2025-05-191h 03Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 30 - Keep the Faith?Has society become more divided? Does our current individualist society provide us with the happiness and the answers we seek? Many commentators have suggested not and that some of the reasons for the current rise in depression, etc. is that society has moved away from the Church.Today I'm joined by my friend Jah, a musician, counsellor and practising Christian who talks about his own personal crises and how he found his way back to the Church. In addition we look at issues in society, our own versions of spirituality and how the "God-shaped...2025-05-121h 07Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 29 - What Became of the Likely LadsToday Adam and I look back on life as a young man in the North of England, what caused him to get on a plane for a new life in Spain at 16 years old, learning humility in the USA, the importance of keeping your people around you and why he feels the need to hang onto the youthful enthusiasm he had as a kid.Honest and upfront while humorous and at times poignant, Adam and I share a few of the lessons life has taught us, discuss some of the apologies we want to...2025-05-0556 minSocial Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 28 - We're Not in Milnrow Now, Mate...Emma and I have known one another for many years after working together in a restaurant in the North of England. Carrying on from my recent catch-up's with friends from my formative years, we discuss life as it was, what choices we made to change things up and both the struggles and the triumphs along the way, including the loss of family, starting a new life abroad and working for yourself.Just to note, the technology let us down at around 40 minutes in but we got it back together - apologies...2025-04-281h 03Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 27 - I'm not for Everyone and That's OKFrom being 90's rave buddies to suburban parents, Suzanne and I have each been through a few things to get us where we are today from our working-class Northern upbringing.Suzanne talks about growing up and not feeling accepted, which moved onto feelings of extreme rejection as an adult. This continued through her life while moving to the other end of the country and resettling, becoming a parent, dealing with the pain of multiple miscarriages and receiving an ADHD diagnosis in her 40's in part due to the kid that saved her...2025-04-211h 18Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 26 - Close Encounters and Sliding DoorsChris and I have known one another since we were 10 years old and were close friends in our teenage years but life took us down different paths that we discover were eerily similar now that we catch up properly after 30+ years.Chris talks about his battles with depression and massive social anxiety, moving to France and various cities around England, marriage and subsequent separation, co-parenting and relating more to our parents.Chris's story is uniquely his but there are many relatable moments in regard to both struggles and triumphs...2025-04-141h 10Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 25 - More Than WordsJoined again by Jules, where we follow on from our previous episode where we talked about being single in your 40's. Jules talks openly about her current relationship and how things have progressed in their six months together, namely all the good things, challenges in communication, navigating boundaries and compromise, along with things that she has learnt about herself.2025-04-071h 06Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 24 - The Cracks are how the Light Gets InAlison talks with me about her realisation from an early age that not everyone has "audible thoughts", battling irrational beliefs alone, her breakdown and subsequent rebuild, getting the diagnosis right, how the 'magic pill' is just a dream and the personal growth achieved from her condition.Alison talks openly and candidly about a topic that is often misunderstood and can sound quite frightening from the outside, let alone the impacts on those living with a schizoaffective disorder.Alison's book is available via Amazon on the link below:...2025-03-311h 05Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 23: Self-Enquiry and Relating as OneMany opinions swirl around relating to spirituality, awareness and consciousness but what does it mean to the individual and how can a greater knowledge of such concepts provide support in a busy and stressful world?Today Vikas and I talk about our own paths to mindfulness, the benefits we've found and how despite all our perceived differences, we are all connected in various ways.2025-03-241h 13Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 22 - Half A World Away...Victoria and I reconnect after more years than we care to count, where we catch up over the lessons we've learnt after living and travelling in different countries, the benefits of having a supportive partner, love at first sight and making the move from a small town - both mentally and physically.2025-03-171h 19Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 21 - Stoicism for the Win?Neil returns to join me for a discussion around emotional regulation, Stoicism, at what point does keeping it in become harmful and some deep topics in amongst a few epiphanies.2025-03-101h 20Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 20 - A Life Less OrdinaryFollowing on from the previous discussion with Dave around the impacts of kitchen culture, I speak with Andre - the manager (and friend) who we credited with creating an incredible team in a highly demanding environment. Andre and I discuss the highs and lows of life in the industry, how it can cause issues with 'outsiders', the impacts of loss, putting a positive spin on things and appreciating the good around us.2025-03-031h 06Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 19 - Boiling PointDave and I discuss our kitchen roots, the culture within that brought our demons to the surface, past trauma and how that presented itself before hitting rock bottom and finding a way back to happiness.2025-02-241h 12Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 18 - Finding the Perfect BlendToday Ben and I talk openly about our experiences of blended families, moving on from past relationships while working on repairing old wounds, conflicting schedules and the immense gains on both a personal and wider level.2025-02-171h 01Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 17 - What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?Sabrina and I discuss the impact of grief and trauma upon the body based on her heart attack following the death of her best friend - but also how she showed up in the world. This prompted a shift in outlook, both in her appreciation of being alive but more importantly taking care of herself and those dear to her.2025-02-101h 04Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 16 - A Sobering Thought...Today I talk with Ryan about his problematic relationship with alcohol, the trouble it caused and the realisation that sobriety means more than just not drinking. I found this to be quite a powerful conversation with lots of relatable points across different areas of life.2025-02-031h 07Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 15 - A Job Well DoneIt seems to be incredibly common to quickly move on from our achievements and either dismiss them or fail to acknowledge what we've done well. In this episode, Simon and I look at why this seems to be the norm, discuss our own personal highlights and work-on's as well as reflecting on how we're trying to reverse-engineer the situation.2025-01-271h 16Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 14 - Feeling the Fear
Fear can be a powerful motivator but it can also be debilitating and harmful on a number of levels. Today Ruth comes back to talk with me about anxieties, fear in different forms and experiences of turning old patterns around in order to learn important lessons.
2025-01-201h 05Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 13 - Rising From the Ashes of BurnoutIn a society that places emphasis on going the extra mile and giving it your all, at what point does the body (and the mind) decide that enough is enough? Today Lauren and I talk about her experiences from burnout, the positive and negative lessons that she learnt and how it feels looking back over how she navigated her way through the difficult times to come back stronger.Mentioned within:🔗 https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/545326/former-nurse-peter-ogden-who-had-sexual-relationship-with-patient-sentenced-to-home-detention2025-01-131h 00Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 12 - When it All Falls ApartAs a child, when we look to what the future holds it can be expected that things will work out and life will follow a positive trajectory - but what happens when that isn't the case and either circumstance or choice cause things to take a turn south? Today Simon (no, another one...) talk about when the bottom falls out of your world, how do you climb back up and what can be learned in the face of adversity.2025-01-061h 07Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 11 - The Messy Middle and Other M's...Over the course of our lives we all have a number of changes that we need to navigate, whether these be physical, situational or otherwise - but how do we adapt to a rapidly changing world and what does that look like? Today I talk with Lisa Tregenza who is a movement and mindset coach, trauma coach and qualified yogi about the impacts of trauma, changes in and around menopause and the benefits of spirituality among other things.
Further information regarding Lisa and her work can be found at: www.lisatregenza.com
2024-12-301h 11Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 10 - Checking In...Humans are wired for connection, both socially and transactionally but why do so many people end up feeling lonely when there are so many modes of connection around us? Today I talk with Jonny about how connection impacts wellbeing, how do we connect with others - including those who insist that they're "all good" - and the formula for creating solid connections.
As discussed in the episode, below is a link for the AMI promo that Jonny filmed:
Facebook
2024-12-231h 13Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 9 - Doing It AllNowadays - particularly with comparison culture - the onus is on us to do a number of things in order to be seen as having a good life, but what does this mean? Today Simon and I talk about our own time spent being a single parent while trying to fit in a 'good life' at the same time.2024-12-161h 12Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 8 - A Design for LifeNeil and I discuss our own outlook on self-improvement and the forms this takes, changing things up career-wise and a lot of the things that have helped shape how we show up in the world today, in addition to how society impacts on our ability to have a 'good life'.2024-12-091h 15Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 7 - Back from the brinkWe all have bad days but how does that progress to the point where ending your life seems like the next step? Ruth talks with me about her own journey into the depths of depression, to how she came out the other side and what life looks like for her now.2024-12-021h 06Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 6 - Grass is Greener?When emigrating - as in many things - people only see the end result or the parts that they want to see, rather than the grind behind the scenes. Francesca and I look at the hard times, the positives and share a few insights for those making the move and those looking to make the most of life once they have.
For more information on Francesca's mentoring services, look her up on: https://www.francescayoungmigrationmentor.com/
2024-11-251h 00Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 5 - The Black DogDepression and mental health in general seem to be often talked about but what does it look like for you? Stu and I talk about his diagnosis of depression and what it looks like for him and those around him.2024-11-181h 05Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 4 - Loneliness and the Importance of FriendsSimon and I wax lyrical about something that has been quite relatable to both of us, as well as many others that we've spoken to in the course of our lives. How does one make friends as an adult? What are the impacts of cutting back on social contact and does one even need to be around others? 2024-11-111h 01Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 3 - What is modern masculinity?There's a lot of talk around at the moment relating to a crisis of masculinity - what is expected of the modern man in today's society? Today Jordan and I give our individual takes and discuss our own experiences...2024-11-041h 29Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 1 - Starting OverWhen young we can assume that when you're in your 40's that life is on a steady track - but what happens when things change? How do you rebuild a fulfilling life? Simon and I give our take, sharing our own experiences...2024-10-291h 26Social Harmony - Time to TalkEpisode 2 - Dating when you're north of 40...
The sweaty palms, approach anxiety, raised heartbeat - the dating game is hard enough when you're young but as you get older what's changed? Jules and I talk about our own experiences both good and bad, I hope you enjoy...
2024-10-2848 min